Color-image forming apparatus having intermediate transfer member and

Abstract

An electrophotographic printer apparatus for printing a color image is provided with a receptive layer for recording an electrostatic latent image and a developer unit for applying the toners of a number of colors to the electrostatic latent image. Also provided are an intermediate transfer medium to which toner images formed in a layered form on the receptive layer are transferred, and a power supply for applying a difference in potential between the intermediate transfer medium and the receptive layer. Further provided are a current detector for detecting a value of an electric current flowing across the intermediate transfer medium and the receptive layer, and a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to a recording medium. Furthermore, a main controller is provided for effecting control in setting the potential difference between the intermediate transfer medium and the receptive layer to V1, in obtaining a current value I1 from the current detector when a toner layer is not present between the intermediate transfer medium and the receptive layer, in obtaining a current value IX from the current detector when the toner layer is present between the intermediate transfer medium and the receptive layer, and in optimally correcting operating conditions of an image-forming element by determining characteristics of the toner layer on the basis of a difference between the current value I1 and the current value IX.